Negticut



(1% Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 1 W. J. WESSENBERG & H P. WILBUR.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

No. 531,708. Patented Jan. 1, 1895.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheei; 2.

W. J. WESSENBERG 83 H. F. WILBUR ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

Patented Jan. 1, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM J. \VESSENBERG AND HORATIO F. YVILBUR, OF MERIDEJ, CON- NEGTICUT.

ELECTRlC SIGNAL.

SFEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 531,708, dated January 1, 1895.

Application filed August 12, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. WEssEN- BERG and Honarro F. WI BUR, citizens of the United States, residing at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in electric signals, and the objects of our improvement are simplicity and cheapness of construction and general efficiency of the signal, especially with reference to quickly exposing the danger signal when desired.

In the accompanying drawings: Figurel is a rear elevation of oursignal,the same being arranged for showing the red light or danger signal. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the principal parts of the same together with a sectional view of the front of the case. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the operating devices, a portion of the frame being removed and other parts shown in section. Fig. at is a view corresponding with Fig. 1 with the parts arranged for showing a white light or safety signal, some of the parts being broken away.

A designates the front of a case or support on which we mount suitable lenses or bulls eyes as they are often termed, the red lens or danger signal being designated by the reference figure 4., while the position of the white or safety signal is indicated by the broken circles at 5. Upon this front of the case or support we secure the frame B, upon which We mount a wound magnet 6 of any ordinary construction, but having its projecting cores 7 beveled off, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and at. This magnet will be connected with the battery in any ordinary manner. Upon the shaft 8 is a segmental armature 9, the outer edge of which is fitted to the beveled ends of the projecting cores and recessed at its middle portion to divide its two ends as shown. The shaft 8 extends from front to rear in a plane that passes centrally between the cores of the magnet, both of which cores are on one side of the axis of the armature. The shaft upon which the armature is mounted also carries a lever 10 to the outer end of which is attached a cord or chain 11, the farther end of which is connected with the cam 12 of the $eria1 No 482,968- illo modeld shaft 13. This shaft 13 has mounted upon it any suitable frame or frames, as for example the frames ll and 15, the former of which may be provided with any desired signal for use in the day time to be exposed through an opening in the support or case when the frame 14 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, although said figure does not show the case or support. Its front A is however shown in Fig. 2, in which 0 designates a portion of the opening through which the signal on the frame let is exposed. The frame 15 carries a diaphragm 16 of any suitable opaque material, which diaphragm is provided with a small opening 17 and an elongated opening 18. The lights will be placed in position back of the diaphragm so as to throw their rays through the respective lenses when the rays are not out off by the diaphragm.

When the circuit passing through the mag net is broken, the frames are moved by gravity into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby displaying the danger signal on the frame 14: for use in the day time and also bringing the elongated opening 18 of the diaphragm 16 in front of the red lens t to display a red light or danger signal. Upon closing the circuit to electrify the magnet, the armature is drawn from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to that shown in Fig.4 and held in that position so long as the circuit is closed. This brings the smaller opening 17 directly in front of the white or safety lens, while the diaphragm cuts off the rays of light from the red lens and also carries the day signal on the frame 14 out of sight. Whenever the circuit is broken the frames return to their former position by the force of gravity, and it should be noticed that only a very slight movement of the frame is sufficient to cover the safety signal or white lens and expose the danger signal or red lens, said danger signal being exposed almost instantly and when the frames have traveled only a fractional part of the whole extentof their movement. The armature 9 may be provided with any suitable stop 19 to limit its movement in the direction for showing the safety signal. We prefer to make this stop elastic so that it will yield a little when struck by the armature. While we prefer the arrangement of lenses and diaphragms herein shown, it is evident that the operating mechanism herein shown and described may be used in connection with signals diliierently arranged and lenses of other colors may be employed if desired.

The particular form of the end of the mag net cores and of the armature and its special relations thereto are made the subject of another application, Serial No. 52%,280, filed September27, 1SDl,and are not herein claimed. One claim however includes the magnet and armature in combination with other parts,

, but the particular form of magnet and armabination With a swinging diaphragm 16,hav-

ing the smaller opening 17 and elongated opening 18 and mechanism for operating said diaphragm, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of a magnet and segmental armature, the magnet 6 of which is stationary and the armature 9 of which swings in a plane thatpasses through both cores of said magnet, the armature shaft 8 extending from front to rear at right angles to the axes of the magnet cores and in a plane that passes centrally between said cores, the operating lever 10 projecting from said armature shaft, the shaft 13 parallel to said shaft 8 byithe side of said magnet, and carrying the swin ing signals, and a flexible connection secured by one end to said lever 10 and by its other end to a cam on said shaft l8,snbs.tantially as de- 40 scribed and for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM J. W'ESSENBERG. HORATIO F. XV'ILBUR. Witnesses:

GEORGE A. CLARK, WILLIAM F. KERR. 

